Switch-operating mechanism



2 Sheets-$ 9M l Nov. 10,1925.

0. M. JENNINGS swmca OPERATING MECHANISM Original F iled Jan. 5, 1924 D.M. JENNINGS SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM ATTORNEY.

Nov. 10 i Patented Nov. 10, 1925.

ise sza DAVID MARION JENNLJGS, OF "WACO, TEXAEi.

SWITCH-OPEEATING MECHANISM.

Application filed January 5, 1924-, Serial No. 6%,610. Renewed April 9,1925.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID MARION JEN- NINGS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Waco, in the county of McLennan.

and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSwitch- Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to switch operating mechanism and moreparticularly to devices of this character which are semi-automatic intheir operation.

An important object of the invention is to provide in combination with acar carried positionable trip mechanism. mechanism ongaged by the tripmechanism and which at each engagement by the trip mechanism reversesthe position of the switch. with which it is associated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an operating mechanismof this character including a rotatable member which is partiallyrotated by each engagement of the trip, together with mechanismconnecting the rotatable member and the switch which at each partialrotation of the operating mechanism reverses the position of the switch.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is showna preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a planview partially in section showing switch operating mechanism constructedin accordance with my inven tion;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 1; and

Figure 1 is a detail view showing the mounting of the operatingmechanism upon the car.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10generally designates a switch, and 11 the movable switch point thereof.In accordance with my invention I provide adjacent the switch a casing12 buried in the ground sothat its cover 13 is flush with the surfacethereof. Within the casing is arranged a two-part guide member 14:, thesections of which when assembled provide a substantially rectangularopening 15 in which is slidably mounted a two-part block 16. The wallsof the twopart guide 1 1- have formed through the side wall thereof anopening 17 aligning with an opening 18 formed in the corresponding wallof the casing, while at one end of the guide opening 15 the end wall ofthe casing is provided with an opening 19. Each part of the two-partblock is provided with one half of a shank portion 20, the completedshank being connected with an operating rod 21 by acoupling 22, theconnection extending through the opening 19 of the casing 12.

Adjacent faces of the block sections are provided with arcuate slots orgrooves 22 -in which are engaged rollers 23 carried by the ends of avertically disposed pivot 24 with which is engaged one end of link 25.The opposite end of this link, which is directed through the opening 17of the guide member and the opening 18 of the side wall of the casing,is pivotally connected with the switch point 11, as at 26. The formationof the slots is such that upon shifting of the block 16 longitudinallyto a point such that the rollers 23 are engaged with the central portionthereof, the switch point 11 will be arranged. at one extreme position,while when the rollers are engaged at either end of the slot the switchpoint will be in the other extreme position. Arranged alongside of theright of way at a point of predetermined distance in advance of the casing 12, a second casing 27 is buried in the ground having its cover 28substantially flush therewith. This casing is provided at the endthereof next adjacent the casing 12 with an opening 29. Arranged withinthe casing are bearings 30 in which is rotatably mounted a shaft 31bearing an eccentric 32 aligned with the opening 29 of the casing. Tothe strip 33 of this eccentric is connected the free end of theoperating rod 21. Like wise secured to the shaft 31 is a disk 34, theperiphery of which extends into a slot 35 formed through the cover 28 ofthe casing 27 and is provided with aplurality of notched teeth 36, eachtooth being spaced from the next adjacent tooth a distance equal toone-quarter ofthe diameter of the disk.

It is intended that the last described mechanism should be operatedthrough the engagement with the ratchet disk 34 of an element carried bya car operating upon the tracks and released by the operator of the carwhen it is desired that the position of the switch be changed. In thepresent instance I have diagrammatically illustrated an. apparatus ofthis character consisting of an arm 37 carried by the 0a and movable t0the elevated or depressed position. This arm has mounted in its lowerend 'a. dog 38 having a tooth 39 for engagement with the teeth 36 of thedisk 34:, the dog being pro vided with a striker wheel 40 preventing itsengagement with the ground prior to its engagement with the disk. Thedog is preferably yieldably mounted, as indicated at 4-1, so as toprevent too sudden a jerk being applied to the mechanism. The operatingrod 21 is preferably housed, as at 42, by a tubular member connectingthe housings 1'2 and 27. It will be obvious that by the use of mechanismconstructed in accordance with my invention a switchmay be alternatedbetween the two positions as desired and will be positively held in suchpositions. It will furthermore be obvious that by con structing themechanism as hereinbefore set forth the same may be readily assembledand repaired. It will, of course, be obvious that the const uction setforth is capable of some change and modification without in any mannerdeparting from the spirit of my invention and I accordingly do not limitmyself to such specific structure as hereinbefore set forth except ashereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In a device of the type described and in combination with arailway switch embodying a shiftable point, a guide arranged adjacentthe switch, a longitudinally shiitable 355 block mounted in the guideand having a longitudinally d1sp0sed areuatelv curved slot, car ope'ated means for shifting and block, a roller operating in the groove ofsaid block and held against movement longi- 4 tudinally of the block, alink connecting said roller and the point of said switch, the caropera-ted means including an eccentric having a strap, a link connectingthe strap and block, and means for partially rotating 4 said eccentric.

2. In a device of the type described and in combination with a railwayswitch embodying a shiftable point, a guide arranged adjacentthe switch,a longitudinally shift- 5 able block mounted in the guide and having alongitudinally disposed arcuately curved slot,- car operated means forshifting. said block, a roller operating in the groove of said block andheld against movement longitudinally of the block, a link connectingsaid roller and the point 01": said switch, the car operated meansincluding an eccentric having a. strap, a link connecting the strap andblock, means for partially rotating said ec- 6 centric, comprising aratchet wheel secured to said shaft, and a car carried dog shiftable toengage said ratchet wheel and to rotate the same through the one stepduring passage of the car. o

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

DAVID MARION JENNINGS.

